Abstract A17: Health and cancer information-seeking practices and preferences: HINTS in Puerto Rico

Background: Effective development and dissemination of cancer control messages to the public requires a firm understanding of individuals’ information-seeking practices and preferences, and cancer-relevant risk behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge. The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) was developed by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a mechanism for collecting such data to inform effective health communication strategies across populations. It provides surveillance of the nation9s investment in cancer communication tracking the effects of the changing communication environment on cancer-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. The University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Puerto Rico Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, and the NCI, implemented HINTS in Puerto Rico in 2009. HINTS Puerto Rico provides an opportunity to better understand the cancer information and education needs of the population and informed cancer control planning for Puerto Rico. In this study, we describe health and cancer information-seeking behaviors, sources of information and trust in information sources among the population in Puerto Rico. Methods: For HINTS-Puerto Rico, the Spanish version of HINTS 2007 telephone survey was carefully reviewed and edited for language appropriateness for the island population by the HINTS Puerto Rico team. Data was collected between April and June, 2009. Variables of interest for this analysis include: health and cancer information seeking and sources; trust in health information sources, use of the Internet for health, and sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, education, and ethnic group, place of birth, annual household income, marital status, and employment status). We used multivariate logistic regression models for each of the outcomes of interest (health information seeking, cancer information seeking, and health-related use of the Internet) to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% CIs for the association between sociodemographic characteristics and these behaviors. Results: A total of 639 (603 complete and 36 partially complete) interviews were conducted. Nearly one-third of respondents had ever looked for information about health (32.9%) or about cancer (28.1 %). The Internet was the most frequently reported source of information (56.4% of information seekers). The majority of respondents were generally positive in their characterization of their information-seeking experiences, and the most highly trusted sources of information were healthcare providers and government health agencies. College educated (OR=7.6,95% CI 3.0-19.3) and females (OR = 2.8,95% CI 1.6-5.0) were more likely to seek health information. Similarly, college educated (OR=5.4,95% CI 1.8-14.1) and females (OR=2.0,95% CI 1.2-3.3) were more likely to seek cancer information. Only 32.7% of respondents had ever accessed the Internet and college educated were more likely to use it (OR=12.2). Conclusion: Results provide insights into the health and cancer information-seeking behaviors and experiences of the population in Puerto Rico and contribute to the evidence base for cancer control planning on the island. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A17.